New law versus ransomware - what has the anti-ransomware law in Spain changed?

In April 2025, Spain's so-called “anti-occupancy law” went into effect in response to growing public concern over illegal home occupations. The discussion of ransomas has been electrifying public opinion for years, and media reports of dramatic cases of owners fighting to reclaim their property have intensified the pressure on politicians. What has the new legislation actually changed?

Express eviction - faster, but not always

The most important change is the introduction of the possibility of immediate police intervention, the so-called “express eviction.” With the new regulations, officers can remove people who have broken into an apartment - provided the owner presents evidence of forcible entry, such as damaged locks, surveillance footage or witness statements.

This solution is expected to significantly reduce the time it takes to recover a property - previously, similar cases went to court, which could drag on for months.

Occupation "without intrusion" - the problem remains

However, the new law does not resolve all situations. If the apartment has been occupied with no signs of a break-in - for example, the intruders got in through an open door, or moved in in the absence of the owner - the case still has to go through the courts. In such cases, express eviction does not work, and the procedure can be long and expensive.

Tenants who have stopped paying - a separate case

Landlords point out that the law does not deal at all with the problem of so-called tenant-debtors, who legally took possession of the apartment, but stopped paying rent. In the eyes of the law, they are not ransom, but a party to a civil dispute. This means that the landlord has to go through the full judicial process to get the property back - and eviction proceedings in Spain can last from several months to even more than a year.

Herein lies the biggest loophole. The owner in practice loses a source of income, and the eviction drags on indefinitely

• María T., spokeswoman for the Madrid homeowners' association, said.

Anti-poaching companies - business on fear or a real need?

The rapid growth of companies offering “anti-ransomware services” shows that the problem - although statistically limited - is felt by the public. They offer monitoring, insurance and even “mediation” with ransomware. Critics believe that their popularity is more the result of media publicity and owner anxiety than the actual scale of the phenomenon.

What's next?

The 2025 anti-occupancy law is a step toward faster protection for landlords, but it is not a comprehensive solution. Gaps remain: non-burglary cases and disputes with non-paying tenants. Experts stress that Spain's housing system needs not only tighter regulations, but also a viable housing policy - a greater supply of social housing and a more streamlined justice system.